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| Posted By: Sylvan Tieger Posted On: Jan 30, 2006 Views: 836 | Lawyers and anti scald Anti scald is a catch 22 no win situation for all involved in the installation and design of plumbing systems. Thanks to lawyers I made a very lucrative living going to courts as an expert witness for burn victims. (even folks on drugs or drunks won burn cases) The real problem is lawyers and politicians decide code policy and very seldom the licensed master plumbers who are in the field are ever consulted. Saying water is to hot is ludicrous as one only has to read the news papers and see how wide spread water borne diseases are lately. GAMA bowing to political pressure decided to lower the outlet temperature of a water heater to 125 degrees F which is perfect for making the tank now an incubator for all kinds of bacteria so the AWWA just adds more chlorine to over come the increase in parasites in the domestic water supply. What a "plumber" would do in increase the outlet temperature of the various heaters to over 140 F. degrees to make sure bacteria is destroyed (190 F on commercial) and install the proper devices to protect people from themselves (no one is held accountable for their actions any more in the USA) Personally I would design the systems as following 140 deg or higher going through a dedicated line to the dishwasher riser (line) and washing machines Then installing a Holby or other good quality tempering valve at the H/W souse and placing TEMPERATURE / PRESSURE devices for the showers and baths and lav's if needed. To rely on just a pressure sensing device is just plain idiotic as pressure fluctuations do not register any seasonal temperature changes. To rely on temperature is not fool proof either as in the case someone inadvertently closes a cold water riser first instead of the hot. Tempering valves are slow acting and not designed for anti scald applications Pressure acting devices do not take temperature into consideration. Temperature devices may be to slow in reacting due to mineral build up Thus a T&P device would be the way to go The reason I like 180 degree water going to a commercial dishwasher is it kills all bacteria (sterilization) in lieu of chemicals which society seems to enjoy adding to our drinking water and who knows what long term effect chlorine vapor has going out of a shower head? Hot water is non polluting safe like fire or gas or electricity if common sense is used but like I learned from going to court there is no such thing as right or wrong it law it is win or lose. Everyone is a victim looking for their accident so they can collect for pain and suffering (sure beats a dull drum day job) It should be quite interesting when I have to go into court and argue how the GAMA lowered the water to such a dangerous low temperature they are accountable for all the new diseases that affect mankind. How the hot water tanks are now incubators for all kinds of bacteria and the chemicals used to kill the bacteria are causing birth defects and brain damage to children and folks with allergies. The idea behind the lowering of the water temperatures to dangerously low conditions is job security for all the lawyers who can now argue how the public is put at risk, never mind it is the same lawyers who sued to lower these temperatures in the first place. Either way it is a win, win situation for the lawyers and expert witnesses and the medical profession as they get to treat the sick from the lack of proper protection afforded by killing the bacteria in the first place. GREAT Society it is when lawyers run amuck and arbitrary interfere in codes and have some engineers on the pay roll who will swear to anything for a price. Like I stated there is no right or wrong it is win or lose and creating job security. People should be re educated that "hot water can burn" and cold water can cause hypothermia |
| Posted By: Sylvan Tieger Posted On: Jan 25, 2006 Views: 734 | Franchise waste I wonder how many truly gifted craftsmen and women who decided to give away their hard earned money to belong to a franchise realized how much money they threw away? Suppose these same folks had invested in hiring a CPA or even in Yellow page ads or even took night school classes in basic business how well off they would be now not having a leach on their back sucking off the profits that the individual could have better use for feeding his or her family. One franchise had the gall to contact me guaranteeing me an exclusive territory. I asked does this mean your going to kill every roto guy and plumbing contractor with in a 50 miles radius? If the answer is no then how can they guarantee anything? I told one of my good friends how to beat the franchise cancer all he had to do is advertise the following. "We will beat any franchise written price by 10-15%" Now he sat back and the calls came in. It is so easy to beat their prices because an independent has no kick back fees to pay and no one to reach into their pocket to be a team player. Want to start a business? Just move into a heavily populated franchise area and advertise We will beat their prices as we are not the middle man. Works everytime.... |
| Posted By: Sylvan Tieger Posted On: Jan 11, 2006 Views: 694 | Drain cleaning I was recently featured in the following http://www.cleaner.com/Articles/December.html I must say more people asked me questions regarding drainage problems then plumbing and heating combined. It is a shame how the franchise disease has taken over a one great industry like plumbing and heating. I can never understand why someone has such little self esteem they are willing to give a hefty percentage of their hard earned training and money to someone who wouldn't know the business end of a compound wrench. I also noted many of the folks who profess to be experts have no formal education (MBA)CPA , etc., yet are self certified to give business advice. I guess the old saying a fool and their money are soon parted |
| Posted By: Sylvan Tieger Posted On: Jul 23, 2005 Views: 738 | One pipe steam How many plumbers still install one pipe steam systems? |
| Posted By: Rogelio Bustamante Posted On: Jan 2, 2005 Views: 919 | about vote forum i believe the image of a work is important ,but the quality and the service is the center from all work.,can been nice image ,but the essence is the quality. thank you very much happy new eve Rogelio Bustamante MG-5 PLUMMBER ASSISTANT |
| Posted By: Shawn Szentmiklosy Posted On: Jan 1, 2005 Views: 917 | Quality vs Competitive I believe that the poll showing 82% of companys prefer quality over competitive price are full of it. I consistently lose bids to companys who employ under educated employees and take numerous shortcuts and shotty work. They are fooling themselves if they think they are choosing quality craftsmanship over bottom line. I feel we need further measures to protect our trade. Why doesnt the inspectors consistently check licenses? Why do developers control our wage? Why are most track home developments employing mexico? If a plumbing company is not competitive they're out...they have to find ways to run lean. If that takes years to accomplish by building up a good customer base than thats what has to happen. Not hiring cheaper labor and taking on more work for volume. What the hell is this volume crap? Lose small or lose big! No profit is no profit. We are not Wal-Mart. We do not have a profit margin of 2%. We are not making Billions. Hopefully they slit their own throats just like we have seen over the past years after 9-11 many big companys going out of business. Carrying huge debt sucking the life out of the plumbing company and then going bankrupt? Is that the american dream? |
| Posted By: Sylvan Tieger Posted On: Sep 23, 2004 Views: 966 | Incompetence Ever notice some of the so called experts who give plumbing business advice never had their own successful business? Worse yet many were not even licensed in the trades they are giving advice in or ever had any formal training MBA, CPA etc. Yet some trade magazines have no problem publishing articles by these same losers. Got to love the Almighty dollar and forget qualifications |
| Posted By: Posted On: Sep 9, 2001 Views: 1119 | OJT with school is the best way to learn the trade |
| Posted By: Posted On: Apr 22, 2001 Views: 1119 | yet |
| Posted By: Posted On: Apr 18, 2001 Views: 1113 | Company makes any repairs. |
| Posted By: Posted On: Apr 17, 2001 Views: 1107 | Company supplies all power and 'specialty tools' (ie large pipe wrenches inside cutters, torches etc.) |
| Posted By: Posted On: Apr 11, 2001 Views: 1103 | GREAT Publication Sylvan Tieger |
| Posted By: Posted On: Mar 22, 2001 Views: 1083 | Workers provide thier own hand tools. Company all power tools and ladders etc.. |
| Posted By: Posted On: Mar 22, 2001 Views: 1024 | Hand tools |
| Posted By: Posted On: Mar 18, 2001 Views: 987 | the real question is...what should companies do? Want me to research the subject and write an article? e-mail me at innerjoy@juno.com |
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